Summer Essentials for Staying Healthy

Photo Sources: krasota-com.ru; kissmyface.com; saltcityoptics.com target.com; www.100percentpure.com; www.naturallyfreshdeoderantcrystal.com

Summer means different things for everyone. In Miami, it means staying out of the sun at peak hours or avoiding scorching your feet on the lava-hot sand as you run to the ocean. In Russia, it means absorbing up every last ray of the sun that is lacking the other 9 months of the year. I've put together a list of my favorite essentials so you can stay healthy and cool under the sun, wherever you may live.

Eating Healthy on the 4th of July

Photo credit: history.com

The sound of children's laughter, music floating through the air, and bursts of color lighting up the sky. The 4th of July has almost arrived again, and these are just a few scenes that come to mind. It is a day of celebration, which unfortunately, like many holidays, has become synonymous with overeating (unhealthy foods) and over-drinking (alcohol).  There are plenty of red, white, and blue foods that don't involve sugar, artificial food coloring, and a host of other murky ingredients, and plenty of refreshing non-alcoholic drinks to cool you off on a hot day.

The Link Between Repressive Governments and the Food Industry

source: http://www.menshealth.co.uk/

In the former, you don't have a choice about what you want to do, but in the latter, you do. But we still do what they say. People are being brainwashed in both cases. Food companies are brilliant in their marketing schemes. Food is after all the third largest industry in the world. Following close behind is the pharmaceutical industry. Make sense?

New Recipe for Thanksgiving: Mixed Greens and Quinoa Salad with Balsamic Drizzle

Thanksgiving is a time to gather with family and friends and it usually involves food. It has become synonymous with overeating, and indulging in what are normally calorie-laden foods, only to regret it the next morning and try signing up at your local gym, if you're not too busy doing Black Friday shopping, of course which can be a workout in and of itself.

6 Tips to Boost your Immune System and Knock the Flu

photo credit: unitypoint.org

It's that dreaded time of the year again, and it seems like everyone around you is getting the flu. But what if you could prevent it and keep yourself healthy?

Type 2 Diabetes and Why You Are Not a Victim of your Genes

A display of tropical fruits at el Palacio de los Jugos in Miami, FL

If you look yourself in the mirror today, can you honestly tell yourself that you have done everything you can to make your body healthy? Today is World Diabetes Day, a day to bring awareness about the disease. So, I hope that my blog can be a small contribution to show that there is an alternative way, and that in many cases, diabetes can be prevented and reversed. You are not a victim of your genes.

Vegan in Beijing: Review of Serene Lotus Restaurant

I always try to be honest with my readers about the restaurants I review. If the restaurant is in fact delicious and aligns with my mission of helping others lead healthier lifestyles, I will give it a great review! While I do not agree with the food preparation in all vegan restaurants, I still think they are worth reviewing and showcasing different cultures' takes on vegan food.

In today's blog post, I'm going to take you to the far East to a vegan restaurant in Beijing. The lovely Xinran Wang, a good friend of mine, is from China and stopped in to have lunch at this restaurant recently. She's a student from NYU and is currently studying abroad in Abu Dhabi. I was thrilled when she agreed to write a review for Plant Based Carolina. I always love to keep things international and spicy! Read on for Xinran's review.

New Healthy Summer Recipe: Gazpacho

Gazpacho is a traditional cold Spanish soup typically served in the summer, and my mom is from Spain so I am so thankful that she taught me how to make this and taught me to love it (although it's really hard not to fall in love with it!) So I dedicate this recipe to my mom, who has taught me so much about cooking and always was patient with me in the kitchen while I was learning. It is such a simple dish, but so tasty and refreshing, especially during the summer when tomato season is in! This recipe is so easy, you can probably make it in under 5 minutes, I dare you!

How to Get in the Best Shape of Your Life Without Leaving Your House

Those rainy summer days sometimes make it hard to workout outside, and in winter, sometimes we're faced with unfavorable conditions (like a wintry mix as the Weather Channel so likes to call it). So you join a gym, right?

Best Grocery Stores in Manhattan

Whole Foods Market in Manhattan
photo credit: Vornado Realty Trust

Don't expect to find a super-sized Publix or Costco in Manhattan. Real estate in Manhattan means top dollars, and grocery stores have to make the best of the limited space. You may have to shop around to find the best options and prices, and don't expect to find everything under one roof in Manhattan. It is not uncommon to go to 2-3 grocery stores to get everything on your list, and sometimes it can be time consuming.

Food Shopping in NYC: Best Fruit Cart in Manhattan

When you have to walk 1 mile to the grocery store, suddenly the logistics of buying a watermelon become a challenge. Or maybe you want to stock up for the week because you know you have a busy schedule ahead of you, but you'll have to figure out a way to get it all home.

D1 Student-Athletes To Have Unlimited Meals and Snacks

The last thing you want to hear after a 3-hour tennis practice is that the cafeteria closes in 30 minutes. So by the time you finish practice, you have to skip stretching and risk having sore muscles, or worse, injuries, and run over to the campus cafeteria with a 20 pound racquet bag on your back

Dance or Dine: Tao Downtown in New York City

Original painting by UK artist HUSH

I’ve always been somewhat disturbed by Koi fish. Maybe it’s the fact they look like overgrown goldfish that makes them seem grotesque. As I walked down the grand staircase, nearing the gigantesque Quan Yin Buddha with 24 protruding arms like a medusa

8 Foods We Eat in the US that are Banned in Other Countries

Do you eat any of these foods? 

1. Artificial food dye: Used to make food-like products colorful, and inhibits nerve-cell development.